Comments are moderated and approved by administrators. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! The morale will get better, then the whole department, Jensen told San Jos Spotlight. By comparison, Sacramento County has more than 5,000 active permits. Were changing the face of journalism by providing an innovative model for delivering reliable, truthful news to the nations 10th largest city. 38 reviews of Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department "Thankfully, my only experience with the Santa Clara County Sheriffs has been getting fingerprinted at this station in San Jose. Nagaye, 51, has served in the Sheriffs Office for 20 years, with the last seven as a supervising sergeant. In 2017, another captain had used inmate labor to build arbors and a storage shed. In addition to conspiracy and bribery charges, Jensen is accused of falsifying public records. Im the only candidate who has called out the bad behavior and served all the major functions in the Sheriffs Office.. In court Monday, he asked Judge Eric Geffon to re-seal the grand jury transcripts on the grounds that his clients trial rights will be prejudiced by their release.. Both Smith and Undersheriff Rick Sung invoked their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination when they appeared before a criminal grand jury Aug. 3, and refused to answer any questions about the scandal, according to transcripts of the proceedings. Besides sketching out the donation-for-permits plan, he surreptitiously recorded a conversation with Jensen using a DA-provided phone app, at a meeting just days before the corruption probe became public knowledge when search warrants were served at the sheriffs office. When I had asked him in one of those early conversations I got, like I dont remember the words it was, basically, Dont ask.'. If the Sheriff lacks a full understanding of the Constitution it would stand to reason that he is vulnerable to violation of his oath. she can't talk freely, then she needs to step down," Hirokawa said. As the new captain assigned to the West Valley patrol division, Im committed to the legacy weve built here in the city of Cupertino, he said. This DAs office has successfully prosecuted elected officials, correctional officers, sheriffs deputies, police officers, attorneys, business owners and other prominent residents, Rosen said in a statement to this news organization Monday. Urena told the council that he is prepared to take on the challenge. Undersheriff ensnared in Santa Clara County concealed guns corruption probe, Sheriffs office hit with corruption probe over concealed weapons permits, | Criminal Justice and Public Safety Reporter. We have seen such words used when the City Council has voted. In Santa Clara County, there's only room for one sheriff in town. FILE - Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith walks to a news conference in Cupertino, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Tracking the drought: Map shows conditions across SF Bay Area, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7. "CCW licenses should not be given in exchange for campaign donations. Smith has not filed papers for reelection or said publicly whether she intends to run. Monday through Friday through 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. With Californias soaring mountains steep in snow, heres how to avoid an avalanche The division commander is Captain Rich Urena, who serves as the Chief of Police for the Town of Los Altos Hills. Shes concerned about declining morale in the office,notingstaffing levels are lowwhich means many employees work mandatory overtime, separating them from their families. August 7, 2020 / 11:34 AM Urena has a wealth of patrol experience, he told the five-member city council. Public Safety Alliance ("PSA"), an independent expenditure committee supporting Sheriff Smith. Sheriff Smith herself was not among those indicted Friday, but Rosen said his office's investigation is wide ranging and far from over. hoped you would put name in hat .Thanks for running !! He replaces Capt. She would combat this by setting up a retention program. They should not be for sale.". Rick Sung as commander of the patrol division. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. Santa Clara County Sheriffs Captain James Jensen among 4 people indicted by grand jury yesterday according to DA Jeff Jensen @nbcbayarea. I think its important to know the men and women who have this difficult job in difficult times are this much behind a candidate, Jensen told San Jos Spotlight. His command experience includes serving as the assistant director of the protective services department at Valley Medical Center, the assistant division commander of the investigations division and the division commander of the court security division. He was promoted to captain and was assigned to Stanford University before requesting to come back to Saratoga and serve as the division commander. Le has been one of the most well-paid Santa Clara County employees for years. A contender for the top law enforcement job in Santa Clara County has won a coveted endorsement. Related Articles Prosecutors allege that Nielsen and West were connected to Jensen by Schumb, Nahal and Nichols to get $90,000 split between the Santa Clara County Public Safety Alliance whose assistant treasurer was Schumb, a veteran South Bay litigator and the Sheriffs Advisory Board. The department also said it's monitoring the situation and has no additional information to provide at this time. "It's a sad day for the Sheriff's department," said retired Undersheriff John Hirokawa, who was defeated in a runoff by Sheriff Smith in the election that year and wonders what role the money played. Le apparently ran into trouble when her superiors did not like her project, and when they learned she didn't have a building permit. In addition to bribery, the indictment accuses Jensen of conspiring with AS Solution employees to put false information in their CCW license applications. 2007-03-13 12:18:00 PDT SAN JOSE -- Santa Clara County sheriff's investigators expect to go to prosecutors this week with their case against De Anza College baseball players suspected of having . She needs to leave and take the stench shes created with her. Rich Urena, who will head the Sheriffs Offices Detective Division. Its going to be an easy election for voters to choosetheyre either going to choose somebody in the organization, or theyre going to choose for change, Jonsen said. The testimonies confirm an earlier report from this news organization that found CCW permits were most frequently granted to high-profile applicants, and that the most common condition for approvals was a reference or order from Smith or one of her top commanders. No other candidate mentioned the Constitution. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. Multiple sources said the year-long investigation has centered on accusations of the sheriff's office favoring people who apply for a concealed weapons permit if they donated to Smith's reelection campaigns. And if she feels that (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group), SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 31: Santa Clara County Sheriff's Captain James Jensen is photographed outside of the Hall of Justice on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, in San Jose, Calif. Jensen was arraigned on conspiracy and bribery charges involving concealed weapon permits in Santa Clara County. Nagaye said she wants the Sheriffs Office to improve its relationship with diverse communities in Santa Clara County, and would set up a commission to jumpstart this process. Rosen noted that any average member of the public applying for a CCW license in accordance with the instructions on the Sheriff's Office website would not have their application reviewed. My resolutions are not something Im just sayingits something Ive been doing my entire career.. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group;. The county has a similar program, but Jonsen wants to expand it to meet greater demand. Local News | From there, he was promoted to lieutenant and came back to Saratoga as the assistant commander of the West Valley Patrol Division. He served various roles for the next three decades, including as an assistant chief in the department of corrections and as jail administration commander. Neil Valenzuela takes over Sheriffs West Valley Patrol Division, 2 brothers found guilty of murdering groom at California wedding party, With Californias soaring mountains steep in snow, heres how to avoid an avalanche, Southern California mountain residents head home, for many its the first time in days, Oakland police investigating spate of shootings that left one dead, five wounded, Woman found fatally shot on I-580 off-ramp. A sheriff's captain was among four people indicted by a grand jury on felony bribery and conspiracy charges as part of an election campaign scandal tied to Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith, the District Attorney's Office said Friday. This is your newsroom. The second half of the agreed-upon donation amount wasstymied by the DA investigation, authorities said. Permits to carry a concealed weapon can be difficult to obtain in Santa Clara County, as they are in most of the Bay Area. Only 62 applicants received a permit, according to the records. Sources close to the case tell the ABC7 News I-Team that the removal stems from an unpermitted arbor and barbecue grill Amy Le built at the jail with her own money, but using inmate labor. He plans to implement greater civilian oversight in the jail systeman outstanding concern among county officials. And were here to provide it. James Jensen, attorney Christopher Schumb, attorney Harpaul Nahal and business owner Michael Nichols allegedly conspired with the CEO and a middle manager of an international security company to offer a $90,000 bribe in exchange for concealed weapons permits, District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. Luis later supervised the Santa Clara County Specialized Enforcement Team working regional investigations with local, county, state and federal public safety partners. He also plans to improve the treatment for mentally ill inmatesand overall conditions in the jail system. Click hereif you are having trouble viewing the slideshow on a mobile device. Essentially, just be out there for the community to ask us questions and get suggestions from the community about where the problems are, he added. Jonsen said he has experience stabilizing organizations bleeding staff, noting he helped staunch the flow of people leaving the Menlo Park and Palo Alto police departments, in part by raising salaries to a competitive level. MILPITAS, Calif. (KGO) -- Santa Clara County Sheriff's Captain Amy Le got walked off the job at Elmwood Jail this past Friday in tears, her badge and county vehicle taken away. West Valley: Rich Urena is new captain of, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early, West Valley: Rich Urena is new captain of sheriff offices West Valley division. Palo Alto Police Chief Robert Jonsen remained on track Wednesday to be elected Santa Clara County's next sheriff. Before that, he was chief of police in Menlo Park for five years. She is also a veteran, having served for five years as a combat medic and training officer in the army. All Rights Reserved. In a surprise turn, West used the defendants Monday arraignment to plead guilty. The DA's investigation began shortly after the general election in 2018, sparked by an inquiry from the Metro Silicon Valley weekly about executive security licensing and an extremely large campaign donation, which was reported in public filings. According to the transcripts, Deputy District Attorney Matt Braker asked Montonye, (Jensen) said that Sung was the individual who brought Martin Nielsen to his attention? to which the investigator replied, Correct. Montonye also testified that Jensen said he was directed by Sung to give the money tell him to give the money to Schumb.. 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Valenzuela said Saratogas spike in residential burglaries is on his radar. Its a small town community I like interacting with.. Jonsen said he also values transparency in law enforcement. Schumbs attorney Joe Wall also filed a motion to remove the DAs office from the case, citing that Schumb has been a friend and fundraiser for District Attorney Jeff Rosen. The public information officers sergeants Richard Glennon, Reginald Cooks and Michael Low also testified that Jensen was still heavily involved in shepherding the CCW application process despite being promoted out of the PIO office, in a rapid ascendance from sergeant to lieutenant and then captain in just a few years. Thankfully, SJS usually gives the names of those who voted against a proposal. Ricardo Rich Urena has been tapped to replace Capt. Saturday and Sunday through Closed. Law Enforcement. Oakland police investigating spate of shootings that left one dead, five wounded "We will follow the evidence where it leads. He cited a internal solutions group he helped create inPalo Alto to address issues like morale and promotions. There were 44 reported burglaries from January to October of 2021, while 59 burglaries were reported in the same time period in 2022. He joined the Bay Area News Group in 2014. . Kevin Jensen, who announced his run for sheriff last September.The association's members voted overwhelmingly to support endorsing him. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sheriff of Santa Clara County, California. And its not because I can give them any promotions or instantly solve their problemsits because Ive earned their trust over a long period of time.. Sources close to the case tell the I-Team's Dan Noyes the removal stems from an unpermitted arbor and barbecue grill Le built at the jail with her own money, but using inmate labor. After submitting seven concealed weapon permit applications to Jensen at a meeting, AS Solution manager Martin Nielsen donated $45,000 -- half of the agreed amount -- to the Santa Clara County Public Safety Alliance, an independent expenditure committee supporting Sheriff Smith. Isnt that what Sheriff Laurie Smith had/has been saying? Santa Clara County sheriff faces grand jury accusation, no plea yet, Former opponent challenges embattled Santa Clara County sheriff, UPDATE: Santa Clara County pursues investigation of sheriff, Helen Chapman fights to save San Joses open space, Bejarano: Why I quit my East San Jose school board, Out of work: Beloved San Jose reverend faces uphill climb, Silicon Valley students stranded by shuttered schools, San Jose legislator wants to raise foster age. I was at the sheriff forum and only one candidate said she would uphold the US Constitution. Jonsen, 59, spent the last four years working as police chief in Palo Alto. Here's where we stand, Armed carjacking suspect leads police on dangerous chase. Closed on Santa Clara County holidays. The defendants are expected to be arraigned on the charges on Aug. 31. How safe is your neighborhood? Allen also wants to address the homophobia and racial inequitieshe sees in the office. We also levy on wages, bank accounts, vehicles or any asset of the judgment debtor. Neither Smith, who has the sole authority in her agency to grant the gun permits, nor Martin Nielsen an AS Solution manager who provided security for Facebook executives has been charged. An inquiry from the Metro Silicon Valley weekly about executive security licensing and an extremely large campaign donation -- which was reported in public filings -- spurred the DA to start an investigation shortly after the general election in 2018. As of January, shes raised $8,400. "It's been something of an open secret within the firearms community," Long said. We know Kevin Jensen as a person and we understand his leadership qualities, Ryan Elder, president of the association, told San Jos Spotlight. The investigation is active and ongoing," said Rosen. Sources tell the I-Team that Le was a supervisor at the Main Jail's sally port when a mentally ill inmate was beating his head against a post inside a transport van. Jensen is also accused of signing off on seven permit recipients who did not complete mandatory firearms proficiency exams including a permit renewal for county Supervisor Mike Wasserman. 5:45 p.m. Lake County sheriff declares a local emergency due to snow. Kevin Jensen, who announced his run for sheriff last September. He is my choice. Santa Clara County Sheriff candidates Kevin Jensen and Bob Jonsen. I would love to serve in that role.. ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Jail reform is one of the key issues in the Sheriff's race, pitting former Palo Alto Police Chief Bob Jonsen against former . She is now on paid administrative leave. Saying yes, but doing NO. If convicted, the defendants could receive prison time. They should not be for sale.". 1:45 p.m. Ex-CEO of security firm pleads guilty in Santa, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early, Ex-CEO of security firm pleads guilty in Santa Clara County gun-permit bribery case, Sheriff and undersheriff plead the Fifth, supervisor blames bad memory in Santa Clara County gun-permit probe, Ex-CEO of security firm charged in Santa Clara County sheriff concealed-gun permit bribery case, Four indicted in Santa Clara County Sheriff concealed gun permit scandal, Big donor to Santa Clara County sheriffs campaign was issued rare concealed gun permit. County Sheriff's Captain, Prominent Lawyer Charged with Gun Permit Bribery Scheme. As the I-Team reported last September, the man suffered brain damage and his parents are suing the county and the Sheriff's Department. He started his law enforcement career with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office in 1989. A Santa Clara County Sheriff's captain, a gun parts manufacturer, and two local lawyers - one a prominent political backer - have been indicted by a grand jury on felony bribery and conspiracy charges. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. Capt. The side of a Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office vehicle is pictured in this file photo. Number of employees at Santa Clara County with job title Sheriff's Correctional Captain is 35. A sheriff's captain was among four people indicted by a grand jury on felony bribery and conspiracy charges as part of an election campaign scandal tied to Santa Clara County Sheriff. He said its important to increase the offices transparency. Over the next 30 years he worked in numerous roles in the county jail and Sheriffs Office. As NBC Bay Area first reported more than a week ago, a criminal grand jury has been looking into allegations of "pay to play" for concealed gun permits in the South Bay. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Tracking the drought: Map shows conditions across SF Bay Area, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7. She was the first female County Sheriff in the history of the state. Allen has received endorsements fromReverend Jeff Moore, former president of the Silicon Valley NAACP, and several retired sheriff employees. SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 31: Santa Clara County Sheriff's Captain James Jensen is photographed outside of the Hall of Justice on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, in San Jose, Calif. Jensen was. We are a bit troubled by the words overwhelmingly and unanimously (and others) when it comes to any voting. Sources have told this news organization that Nielsen a central figure in the scheme, who wrote the $45,000 check that touched off the investigation after Smith was re-elected in 2018 cooperated with investigators early on. Jensen later instructed AS Solutions Inc. to have their executive protection agents falsify the names of their employer on their CCW applications, and for those agents living outside the county, to falsify their addresses as well, according to the indictment. All Rights Reserved. The Civil Warrants Division serves Civil process in the manner prescribed by law. Like his opponents, Jensen said hes concerned about the lack of transparency in the office, which he blames on Smiths managerial style. Amy Le, who led the Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers' Association (CPOA) and went to bat for Sheriff Laurie Smith in her last election, was served a letter charging her with wrongdoing, stripped of her badge and escorted off the job Friday. Jensen has also received endorsements from retired county supervisor Blanca Alvarado, Gilroy Mayor Marie Blankley, Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran and former sheriff Robert Winter. He may be contacted at 408-868-6612 or email at email Rich Urena. Long, who created a blog to document the CCW process in Santa Clara County, said he was unsurprised by the indictments. But the approval rate skyrockets for the 28 applicants who either gave campaign cash to Sheriff Laurie Smith directly or where a family member or employer donated. We are not done, he said. She is now on paid . A grand jury has indicted Santa Clara County Undersheriff Rick Sung and added an additional indictment against a captain linked to a concealed weapons permit scandal that has rocked the Sheriff's . We know hes the best candidate to address these issues (in the office).. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. "But then when it came time to renew, I was not allowed to renew and those reasons were never explained to me phone calls were not returned," explained Moore. Jonsen said the county should offer more skill-based programs in the jails for inmates so they can find employment upon release. I am a mom, wife, a veteran, LGBTQ+ ally and I understand the diversity of Santa Clara County, Nagaye said. Le reportedly wanted to create a break space for correctional staff. Then I suggest you educate other voters so more people are aware. Jensen's attorney Harry S. Stern released the following statement to ABC7 News: James is devastated by this development. I havent been provided any evidence at this point, but broadly speaking I believe that all of the folks involved were legally able to obtain the permits.
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